Bag for use with a tray table

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to a purpose designed tote bag that can hold the personal items of a person confined to a bed or chair or ambulant people who may be unstable when walking. The purpose designed tote bag has a wide strap that has the same width as the width of the side of the tote bag and the strap can be used to suspend the bag from a tray table while allowing a person to easily access the contents held therein.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to bags and use with tray tables, chairs, beds and trolleys. The present invention has particular but not exclusive application for use with tray tables in hospital. Reference to the use of the invention in hospitals is by way of example only and the invention is not limited to this use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When a patient is confined to a bed in a hospital they often use the trolley tray table to place their personal items including phone and computers, books and magazines, medications and snacks. These items are moved at meal times when the staff deliver meals on trays to the patient. The items are subsequently placed to one side or within bedside draws. Patients often find it difficult to retrieve one or more of these items from their relocated position. It is a source of frustration and inconvenience for the patient to try and retrieve their personal items. If the patient tries to retrieve the personal item without staff assistance they may expose themselves to a safety risk of falling out of bed and consequently injuring themselves. The problem is enhanced by the fact that the patient may desire different personal items throughout the day and need the assistance of staff to retrieve the items and return others to the draws or sideboard.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bag that contains a person's personable items and is easily accessible by them when they are confined to a bed or chair.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect the present invention is a bag for positioning over a tray table including a strap portion and a container portion, wherein the width of the strap portion is substantially the same as the width of a side of the container portion and the length of the strap portion when placed over the tray table is substantially between having the container portion adjacent the tray table and the floor.

In another aspect the present invention is a bag for positioning over a tray table or like and including a strap portion and a container portion, wherein the width of the strap portion is substantially the same as the width of a side of the container portion and the length of the strap portion is at least three times the height of the side of the container portion.

In another aspect the present invention is a bag for positioning over a tray table or like and including a strap portion and a container portion, wherein the width of the strap portion is substantially the same as the width of a side of the container portion and the length of the strap portion is between 50 cm and 100 cm. Preferably the length of the strap portion is between 80 cm and 120 cm and more preferably substantially 90 cm.

Preferably the strap portion is adapted to support the container portion beneath the tray or object on which the strap is positioned. The length of the strap portion preferably is such that the bag is supported without touching the floor or ground.

The bag can preferably be supported on a table, tray table, bed head, chair, walker, wheelchair.

Preferably the bag has handles so it can be easily carried.

Preferably the container portion, compartments and or pockets are closeable. Preferably each of the compartment opening and or one or more of the pockets have a fastener to close the respective openings and safely hold the contained items. The fastener is preferably a hook and eye fastener such as Velcro™.

The bag is preferably light weight and made of water resistant material. The bag is preferably made of hessian, cotton, nylon, polypropylene or other suitable plastics material.

Preferably the bag has a floor insert that provides additional support for items contained therein. Preferably the floor insert is a stiff plastic base.

The container portion preferably has a plurality of pockets and compartments to separately hold different items such as mobile phone, books and magazines, tablets, wool and knitting, drinks, wallet or purse, glasses, food, pens and pencils, tissues, wipes, clothes, toilet paper, torch, brush and comb, make-up bag and toiletries bag and a sick or vomit bag. There may be one or more pockets in the strap portion to hold said items.

The strap portion in one embodiment is extendable.

The strap portion in another embodiment is detachable.

In a further aspect the invention broadly resides in a bag for positioning over a width of a tray table, said bag comprising a strap portion and a container portion, wherein the width of the strap portion is about the same width as the width of a side panel of the container portion and the length of the strap portion is a length that enables the bag to be placed over the tray table and the container portion be suspended adjacent the tray table without touching the floor thereby to increase stability of the bag and to provide convenient access to the contents of bag when in use.

The length of the strap portion is preferably at least three times the length of the side panel of the container portion.

The length of the strap portion is preferably between 50 cm and 140 cm.

The bag preferably has an insertable stiff plastic base and the bag has a plurality of pockets to hold items of different size.

The bag preferably has a plurality of pockets and one or more of the pockets have a fastener to securely close the pockets.

The bag preferably has a container portion with a base of about 33 cm by 15 cm, side panels of about 33 cm by 15 cm, front panels of about 33 cm by 30 cm and a relative long strap portion with a width of about 15 cm and a length of about 140 cm.

The strap portion can preferably be lengthened or shortened with an adjustable slider. The bag can preferably be supported on a tray table for a nursing or hospital bed, across the handles of a wheelchair or a back of a lounge chair.

The features described with respect to one aspect also apply where applicable to all other aspects of the invention. Furthermore, different combinations of described features are herein described and claimed even when not expressly stated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the present invention can be more readily understood reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic front view of the preferred embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic rear view of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With respect to the figures, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention being a tote bag 10. The tote bag 10 has a strap 11 and a container portion 12. The container portion 12 is substantially rectangular in shape with two opposing narrow sides 14 and two opposing elongate sides 15. The strap 11 extends from and between the narrower sides 14. The strap 11 is substantially the same width as each of the narrower sides 14. With the strap 11 having a width that is substantially the same as the narrow sides 14, the strap 11 is able to support heavy items within the container portion 12 and resist twisting of a laden container portion 12. The wide strap 11 provides a stable basis to support the tote bag 10 from a tray table.

The tote bag 10 has a number of pockets 17 for placing different items. There is a pocket 17 for an emesis bag and a pocket 18 for eye glasses and sun glasses in the strap 11. In the narrow sides 14 there is a pocket 19 for a phone and device charges, and a pocket 20 for purse or wallet. Valuables may be kept in pocket 20 or another pocket within the container portion 12. The elongate sides 15 include larger pockets 21,22 which can hold books, notebooks, documentation and folders, computer tablet. The pockets 21,22 can also have pen and pencil loops. The compartment within container portion 12 can hold larger or bulkier items such as wool, knitting and knitting needles, jumper, shawl, tablets and other medicines, breathing exercise apparatus, physiotherapy and massage devices, toiletries, water bottles, tissues, toilet paper, nurse call and bed adjustment device and snacks. Preferably the compartment has a floor and an insertable stiff plastic base on which the personal items can be placed.

The preferred embodiment has a strap 11 with a width of approximately 15 cm and length of approximately 140 cm. The strap 11 has no seams and is a single piece of material. The container portion 12 has a base of approximately 33 cm by 15 cm. The narrow sides 14 are approximately 33 cm by 15 cm. The elongate sides 15 are approximately 33 cm by 30 cm.

The tote bag 10 can be made of any suitable material including cotton, hessian and jute, plastics such as nylon and polypropylene. The tote bag 10 in one embodiment is disposable. The disposable embodiment is particularly useful in hospitals and aged care facilities to minimize the risk of transferring disease causing agents. The tote bags 10 also provide an opportunity for hospitals and businesses to advertise on the outside surfaces of the bags. Advertisements can be placed on the pockets 21 and 22.

In use the tote bag 10 is laden with the personal items of the patient or owner and the strap 11 is extended over one end of the tray table so that the container portion can safely hold the items without risk of the items from falling out and in a position where the items within and on the bag 10 are easily accessible. In a hospital situation, the person may be confined to a bed and have a mobile tray table that can be moved closer or away. The tote bag 10 can be suspended from the strap 11 where the strap 11 extends across the width of the tray table. With a wheel chair or lounge chair, the strap 11 is preferably spread across the upright support and the container portion 14 moved to a position where the person can easily reach for the items in and on the bag 10.

ADVANTAGES

The advantages of the preferred embodiment of the present invention include having a purpose designed tote bag that can hold personal items and physiotherapy and hospital equipment, and is easily accessible by a person confined to a bed or chair or ambulant people who may be unstable when walking. The tote bag provides the personal items in safe and easy reach for the confined person. The use of the tote bag is convenient and provides a level of security and safety to the person knowing that their personal items are not moved but maintained in one place. In the situation where there is a mobile tray table that is moved to and from a person confined to a bed, the tote bag allows their personal items to be stored therein rather than be spread out on the tray table and periodically removed when the food tray is delivered and placed thereon.

The purpose designed tote bag of the preferred embodiment has a wide strap that has the same width as the width of the side of the tote bag and the strap can be used to suspend the bag from a tray table while allowing a person to easily access the contents held therein.

VARIATIONS

It will of course be realized that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification the word “comprise” and variations of that word such as “comprises” and “comprising”, are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps. 

1. A bag for positioning over a width of a tray table, said bag comprising a strap portion and a container portion, wherein the width of the strap portion is about the same width as the width of a side panel of the container portion and the length of the strap portion is a length that enables the bag to be placed over the tray table and the container portion be suspended adjacent the tray table without touching the floor thereby to increase stability of the bag and to provide convenient access to the contents of bag when in use.
 2. The bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the length of the strap portion is at least three times the length of the side panel of the container portion.
 3. The bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the length of the strap portion is between 50 cm and 140 cm.
 4. The bag as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bag has an insertable stiff plastic base and the bag has a plurality of pockets to hold items of different size.
 5. The bag as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bag has a plurality of pockets and one or more of the pockets have a fastener to securely close the pockets.
 6. The bag as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bag has a container portion with a base of about 33 cm by 15 cm, side panels of about 33 cm by 15 cm, front panels of about 33 cm by 30 cm and a relative long strap portion with a width of about 15 cm and a length of about 140 cm.
 7. The bag as claimed in claim 2, wherein the strap portion can be lengthened or shortened with an adjustable slider.
 8. The bag as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bag can be supported on a tray table for a nursing or hospital bed, across the handles of a wheelchair or aback of a lounge chair. 